Panel-type room divider and closure for wall-like opening and the like



United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard E. Bolden 347 Allegany St., Frostburg, Maryland 21532 [21 1 Appl. No. 779,975 [22] Filed Nov. 29, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 20, 1970 [54] PANEL-TYPE ROOM DIVIDER AND CLOSURE FOR WALL-LIKE OPENING AND THE LIKE 7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 160/172, 160/176 [51] Int. Cl E061) 09/26, E06b 09/36 [50] Field ol'Sear-ch 160/172,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,975,831 3/1961 Taylor et a1 l60/l72 3,280,891 10/1966 Eldredge etal ABSTRACT: A room divider or closure for a wall-like opening or the like in a building comprising a series of similar panels extending either vertically or horizontally and supported by appropriate guide means fixed along the upper or side boundaries of said opening and arranged to permit the panels to be moved into and from compact, retracted positions adjacent one side or edge of said opening or into edgeabutting relationship to completely close said opening, means also supporting said panels for pivotal movement through an arc of approximately 135 about the longitudinal axis of said panels to provide a louver effect for the passage of light and air between the panels. and including mechanisms operable simultaneously and selectively either to pivotally move allof said panels simultaneously in louverlike fashion or move said panels simultaneously between fully expanded closing position and fully retracted open position while effecting even spaces between said panels during such movements.

Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,801

30 FIG.5

INVENTOR RICHARD E. BOLDEN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,801

INVENTOR RICHARD E. BOLDEN ATTORNEY PANEL-TYPE ROOM DIVIDER AND CLOSURE FOR WALL-LIKE OPENING AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various kinds of panel type closure means presently are available to completely close a wall-like opening in a room or building, or permit compact movement of all of said panels into closely abutting, vertical relationship with respect to each other adjacent one side of said opening and thereby provide a maximum open space therein. Many such panel constructions presently available are arranged so that the adjacent edges of the panels are hingedly connected, some of them being so connected for the entire length thereof, such as by providing fabric or similar flexible strips between the adjacent edges of the panels which serve as an elongated hinge means.

For a long period of time, window or wall openings of various kinds also have been arranged to be closed by a series of panels which can extend either horizontally or verticallywith respect to the opening and the same are pivotally supported at opposite ends either between the opposite edges thereof or at one or the other of said edges for similar, simultaneous pivotal movement of all of said panels to effect a desired degree of opening therebetween and thereby comprise adjustable louver means, one popular form of this arrangement being known as ajaiousie.

in both of the aforementioned types of adjustably positionable horizontal or vertical panel means for extending across a wall-like opening, as far as is known with respect to the present invention, louver-type panels or jalousies, though pivotally supported, cannot be moved into compact relation ship, for example, adjacent one face or side of the opening across which they extend; and foldable and contractible hingedly connected panels which are arranged to be extended across a wall-like opening or moved into compact relationship adjacent one face or side thereof cannot be pivotally moved about the axes thereof to effect spaces therebetween and thus serve as louver orjalousie structure.

Representative of the known panel-type closure means which are found in the prior art somewhat in the general field of closure means to which the present invention pertains are the following U.S. Pat. Nos: 1,892,340 Guth Dec. 27, 1932; and 2,658,572 Guth et al Nov. 10, 1953 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION either for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axes of the panels, when disposed across said wall-like opening or room between opposite sides or walls thereof and thereby serve as a jalousie arrangement, or permit the panels to be moved, while evenly spaced apart between each other, from an extended, closed relationship across said opening or room into a comwhich may be fixed to the upper wall of said opening or ceiling of a room, or in a pair of vertical channels respectively mounted along opposite sides of such an opening, and having connecting means affixed to either the upper end of each panel, or the opposite ends of each panel, which selectively permit pivotal movement of the panels about the fixed longitudinal axes of said panels, said means positively pivotally moving all of said panels equally and simultaneously either from edge abutting, closed relationship or compactly abutting and fully retracted relationship relative to such opening, or vice versa.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a dual function, compact mechanical unit connected to at least one end of each panel and selectively capableof effecting pivotal movements of said panels simultaneously about the longitudinal axes thereof by the use of exemplary elongated rack and pinion gears meshing therewith, and, by the use of exemplary pivotally connected sets of links included in, said mechanical units which extend between adjacent panels, said panels being automatically evenly spaced with respect to each other while being moved between fully extended closed position and fully retracted open position with respect to the opening or opposite walls of a room within which the panels are mounted, or to any intermediate positions of said panels between such fully closed and fully retracted position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide appropriate guide and spacing means for the opposite ends of said panels from those to which said aforementioned mechanical units are connected so that the opposite ends of all panels will at all times be spaced apart evenly and the panels will be parallel to each other, said guide means on said opposite ends of said panels preferably being disposed within grooved or channeled means fixed relative to either a floor surface or a side facing of an opening, preferably recessed thereinto, thereby preventing lateral movement of either end of said panels relative to the plane of such opening.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWHNGS FIG. l is a vertical elevation, interrupted transversely to condense the view vertically and showing a typical arrangement of one embodiment of panel-type room divider and closure means which includes the principles of the present invenpact and flatly abutting relationship of said panels adjacent one face or side of said opening or room, or vice versa, and

thereby provide a maximum amount of space in said opening, or between opposite walls of a room, or close said opening, as desired.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide compact means mounted preferably adjacent one of theends of said panels and arranged to control and achieve said movements of said panels selectively with respect to an opening or opposite walls of a room within which the panels are disposed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide supporting means for said panels slidably movable in a grooved channel,

tion shown in relationship to an exemplary framed wall-like opening with which the panel means is adapted to be used.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. l and foreshortened vertically, said view illustrating the details of supporting and guide means for the panels at the upper and lower ends thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the panel disposed transversely to the arrangement thereof shown in H6. 2 as when the same are in either fully open louver position or are compactly retracted to one side of the wall-like opening, as illustrated generally in FIG. 4.

H6. 4 is a fragmentary illustration of the left-hand end of the framed opening of FIG. 1 and showing the top plan arrangement of the panels in open position as represented on the line 4-4 of lFllG. 3.

HO. 5 is a view similar to H6. 4 but showing the panels arranged in fully expanded position and all pivotally moved so as to extend transversely to the plane of the wall-like opening as trating additional details of the rack-supporting mechanism shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the upper portion of the panel arrangement shown in the preceding FIGS., generally as seen on the line 8-8 of FIG, I but FIG. 8 illustrating the panels in compact, retracted position as otherwise illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the panels in expanded relationship with respect to each other and arranged in fully opened louver positions, both FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating details of mechanism by which the panels are evenly spaced relative to each other and also are pivotally moved between fully closed and fully opened position simultaneously.

FIG. 10 is a further enlarged fragmentary view, partly broken away intermediately of the opposite ends to foreshorten the same and illustrating in greater detail than in the preceding FIGS. essential features of the panel spacing and pivoting means.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12-15 are diagrammatic plan views of different arrangements of the rack and pinion gear means by which the panels are pivotally moved between fully opened and fully closed position; FIG. 12 showing the gear and rack arrangement of two adjacent panels when the panels are fully closed; FIG. 13 showing the arrangement when the same pair of panels are fully retracted to open position; FIG. 14 showing the arrangement when the same pair of panels are disposed in partially open, oblique positions with respect to the opening in which they are mounted; and FIG. 15 showing the arrangement when the same pair of panels are disposed in fully opened position but spaced apart the maximum permitted amount as when sewing as a louver in fully opened position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary, framed wall-like opening 10 is illustrated, having a header l2 and extending above an exemplary floor surface 14 or the like. It is to be understood that the wall-like opening 10 is intended to exemplify and define a space between opposite walls of a room, as where the present invention is to serve as a room divider, under which circumstances the opposite vertical jamb facings 16 and 18 figuratively represent the opposite side walls of such room.

Further, such opening arrangement has been selected primarily to simplify the illustration of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to restrict the invention from use with window-type openings. for example, as is set forth hereinafter in greater detail.

Further to simplify the illustration of the invention, the paneltype room divider and/or closure structure for a wall-like opening has been shown as comprising a series of similar exemplary vertical panels 20 which, to foreshorten the same vertically, and thus accommodate them readily on the sheet, have been broken horizontally at several locations for that purpose. However, it is to be understood that for certain desirable installations, the panels may be arranged horizontally.

The panels 20 may be formed from any suitable material such as solid wood, press-board, plywood or any appropriate type of synthetic paneling, including plastics or synthetic resin bonded fibers and the like, and glass. The panels 20 also are preferably of uniform width, thickness and length. In certain of the FIGS., the panels 20 have been illustrated, primarily to exaggerate certain features thereof, as being of a relatively thick nature which is greater than actually is necessary. Further, the opposite edges of the panels have been illustrated as being of a diagonal or sloping nature so that when, for example, as viewed in FIG. 5, the panels are all rotated through an arc of substantially 90, clockwise, the adjacent edges of successive panels will substantially abut each other and thereby form an effective closure or room divider as illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 1. Other operable edge shapes may be used instead of the ones shown.

To support the panels 20, either the ceiling ofa room, if the panels are to constitute a room divider, or the header 12 in the upper portion of a wall-like opening 10, is provided with an elongated channel 22 which is suitably affixed to the upper surface of such ceiling or the header 12 by any appropriate means such as screws or the like, not shown. The opposite side flanges of the channel 22 suitably are turned inwardly toward each otherso as to form a slot therebetween within which appropriate shaft means 24 extend. Transversely extending supporting heads 26 are fixed to the upper ends thereof for slidable movement within the channel 22.

Each panel 20 is provided with one of the shafts 24 which is connected thereto by means described in detail hereinafter. Similarly, the lower ends of the panels 20 are provided with appropriate guide and spacing means illustrated in exemplary manner particularly in FIGS. 1-3. in which it will be seen that an appropriate guide channel 28 preferably is recessed below the upper surface of the floor 14 for example. In cross section, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide channel 28 may be of a rectangular box configuration, of suitable material such as wood or metal, and the upper panel portions 30 thereof preferably are flush with the floor surface I4. These, too, may be formed of metal or any other suitable rigid material which may serve similarly to the threshhold of a doorway. for example.

The lowermost channel of the guide channel 28 also supports another relatively shallow channel 32, or its equivalent, which accommodates guide heads 34 supported by an additional shaft 36 which depends downwardly from the lower end of each panel and which is connected thereto by suitable means described in detail hereinafter. The guide mechanism comprising the guide heads 34 on the lower ends of the panels 20 and the shallow channels 32 prevent lateral movement of the lower ends of the panels 20. transversely to the axis of said guide means, regardless of whether they are in fully opened or fully closed positions with respect to each other, relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide channel 28.

PANEL SPACING MEANS The present invention includes mechanism by which the panels 20 are all preferably evenly spaced apart with respect to each other or, when the panels are in closed position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, at least the median longitudinal axes of the panels are equally spaced with respect to each other, even when the adjacent edges of the panels are preferably approximately in abutment with each other. Said spacing means comprises a series of pairs or sets of pivotally connected links 38 and 40, details of which are best shown in FIGS. 8-10. One pair of such links are pivotally connected intennediately of the ends thereof to the upper end of each panel 20 by a relatively short shaft 24 depending from each of the heads 26. The outer ends of adjacent pairs of said links likewise are pivotally connected by additional suitable rivets or pins 44. For convenience, said links are sometimes referred to hereinafter as crossed-links.

As is best shown in FIG. 9, particularly to permit the use of panels 20 which are of appreciable width, such as of the order of possibly 6 or 8 inches for example, but without restriction thereto, and yet not require a header of abnormal width transversely to the axis thereof, it is preferred that successive panels be controlled and spaced apart by another, intermediate pair of links 38 and 40, which are pivotally connected to the ends of said pairs of links on each panel respectively by pins or rivets 44. Said intermediate pairs of pivotally connected links 38 and 40 are pivotally connected to each other by a central pin or rivet 42.

Each pair of the links 38 and 40 which are directly connected to the upper end of each panel are connected thereto by means of abridge link 46 which is relatively short and the lower end of each of the short shafts 24 is fixedly connected to one of said bridge links 46 by riveting or any other suitable means, as shown in exemplary illustration in FIG. 11.

Suitable headed pins or bolts 50 respectively extend downwardlythrough the opposite ends of each bridge link 46 and also through vertically aligned holes in an attaching plate I 52, see FIGS. 8, 9 and 11. Said attaching plate, for example, is

secured at its opposite ends, in flatly abutting relationship, to the upper end of each of the panels 20, by suitable screws 54, or the like. The lower'ends of the pins 50 either are headed or threaded to receive nuts which may be suitably recessed into theupper end of the panel 20, as illustrated in FIG. 11. By such arrangement, the panels 20 are suspended in depending manner from the transverse slidable heads 26 in channel 22.

When, for example, the panels are disposed in fully opened, louver condition, as illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 9, and it is desired to push the panels together into compact relationship as illustrated in FIG. 8, so as to substantially completely open the wall-like opening or space 10, it is only necessary to push, for example, the endmost panel 20, adjacent the right-hand side of the opening toward the left as shown in 'FIG. 1, and to facilitate such manipulation, said panel may be provided with a suitable handle or knob 56 as shown in FIG. 1. By pushing on said endmost panel when the panels are disposed in transverse, spaced relationship, as shown in FIG. 9 in plan view, the pivotally connected pairs of links 38 and 40 will insure that all of the panels will progressively be moved toward each other, and throughout such movement, they will be substantially equally spaced apart, at all times, until finally they are brought into flat abutting relationship, as shown in FIG. 8, in which position all the pairs of links 38 and 40 likewise will be in much greater contracted relationship than in the expanded position thereof shown in FIG. 9.

To insure similar movement of the opposite, or lower ends, of the panels 20, similar pivotally connected pairs of links 38 and 40 are connected to short shafts 36 depending from the lower ends of the panels, upon the lower ends of which shafts guide heads are mounted. The space within the guide channel 28 is sufficiently wide to accommodate said links even when the same are arranged in the fully contracted position shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the upper set of pivotally connected pairs of links. Under certain conditions of use, it may be desirable that the links 38 and 40 connected to the lower ends of the panels not be enclosed in a channel, whereby only short shaft extensions may be used for sliding movement in a simple groove or channel.

PANEL PIVOTING MEANS Referring particularly to FIGS. 9 through 15, details and operation of means to pivot the panels respectively between the fully closed and edge-abutting relationship shown in FIG. I, and the fully opened louver-type arrangement shown in FIG. 9, now will be described. Such mechanism comprises relatively simple construction and consists essentially of a pair of similar, parallel, elongated toothed racks 58 and 60. Said racks respectively extend longitudinally through triangular frames which each comprise a pair of similar plates 48 which receive between the apex portions thereof similar meshing spur gears 62 and 64 of equal diameter and pitch. Said gears respectively are pivoted upon the headed pins or bolts 50.

The so-called base portions or edges opposite said apexes of the plates comprising the frame members 48 are separated by pairs of similar anti-friction rollers 66, mounted on appropriate pins or rivets 68 for purposes of engaging the flat surfaces of the racks 58 and 60 which are opposite to the toothed surfaces thereof. It will thus be seen that the triangular frames48 are slidably guided upon the elongated racks 58 and 60 and somewhat float with respect to each other to a very limited extent incident to maintaining the spur gears 62 and 64 in mesh with each other and also with the respective racks which they engage.

From the foregoing description and particularly with reference to FIGS. 8 through 11, it will be seen that the bridge links 46 are rigidly positioned with respect to the upper end of opened position as shown in FIG. 9, for example, the axes extending between the centers of the headed'pins 50 likewise are similarly shifted and carry their respective gears therewith.

Due to the fact that the racks 58 and 60 are constantly in mesh with the respective spur gears 62 and 64 carried by the upper end of each panel, when a single panel, either at the end of the assembly thereof, or one of the intermediate panels, is moved about its vertical, longitudinal axis, the meshing of all of the gears of each panel with each other andthe racks 58 and 60 will effect simultaneous, similar pivotal movement about the longitudinal axes of each panel, regardless of whether said panels initially are in fully closed, fully opened louver position, or in some intermediate position of angular relationship with the plane of the wall-like opening in which they are mounted, and regardless of whether the panels are fully expanded with respect to each other by means of the link action by which'the panels are interconnected as explained hereinabove.

Further, when the panels are moved between fully retracted and fully projected positions, regardless of whether the same are disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of movement as shown in FIG. 9, or at some acute angle with respect thereto other than the fully closed position shown in FIG. I, such movement of one panel will induce similar movement in all of the other panels. Also, even spacing will occur constantly between the panels due to the action of the pivoted links, while the intermeshing of the gears 62 and 64 on the upper end of each panel with the racks 58 and 60 will maintain all of the panels in the same angular relationship with respect to the axis of movement across such wall-like opening, due to the fact that the gears 62 and 64 on each panel mesh with each other as well as with their respective racks. A: a result of this, it is impossible to effect independent pivotal movement of any particular panel; similar movement will always be induced in all of the other panels.

Particularly when the panels have all been moved substantially to the fully retracted position thereof shown in FIG. 8, for example, it can be visualized readily that a very substantial portion of the length of the racks 58 and 60 will extend toward the opposite side or edge of said opening. Except for the provision of certain means described hereinafter, said projecting ends of the racks, as well as intermediate portions thereof, would sag considerably under the foregoing circumstances, due to the fact that the cross-sectional dimension of the racks 58 and 60 preferably is small, inasmuch as no great amount of load or work is intended to be exerted by the same. In accordance with the invention however, suitable support means for the racks are provided under such circumstances, the same being illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

It is to be understood that the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is merely exemplary but, nevertheless, is effective to support said racks by means of a plurality of transverse ly extending horizontal brackets 70 which have central stems 72 terminating in supporting heads 74. Said heads are similar to the heads 26 on the shafts 24 explained hereinabove and illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for example. Connected between successive brackets 70 are flexible cords or the like 76, which are of similar length, and are respectively connected at the ends thereof to adjacent surfaces of successive brackets as best shown in FIG. 7. It is not necessary for the brackets 70 to be as broad as illustrated in proportion to each other as they are in FIG. 7 since said view is meant to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it is preferred that the width of the brackets 70 as viewed in FIG. 7, when bunched in closely assembled relationship at the right-hand end, readily may be accommodated in the space between the right-handmost shaft 24, for example, on right-handmost panel 20 shown in FIG. I, and the adjacent jamb facing 16 for example.

According to the above, m it is desired to move the panels to the retracted position of FIG. 8, for example, all of the panels must be rotated simultaneously about the vertical axis thereof to dispose the panels transversely to each other in open louver position, as shown in FIG. 9, and they are pushed toward the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 8. When this occurs, the bracket 70 which is farthest from the jamb member 16, as viewed in FIG. 7, will first be pulled toward the left by the retreating interconnected panels until the connecting cord 70 between it and the next succeeding bracket is taut. Following this, the next successive bracket will be moved toward the left in FIG. 7, and so on until as many as necessary of the entire group of brackets will be equally spaced apart.-

Correspondingly, they will all be slidably moved with respect to the racks 58 and 60 which they support, whereby the spaced brackets will serve satisfactorily to support the racks 58 and 60 against any appreciable sagging of any kind.

Similarly, when the panels 20 are moved from the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 8 to or toward the fully expanded position shown in FIG. 9, for example, the brackets 70 progressively will be pushed into abutting relationship with each' other, commencing from the left, and advancing toward the right as viewed in FIG. 7. Further, to insure accurate positioning of the racks 58 and 60 upon the brackets, it is preferred that the opposite ends of the brackets will be upturned or otherwise suitably shaped to guard against accidental disengagement of said racks from the brackets 70, as can be appreciated from FIG. 6.

To afford a further understanding of the coaction of the racks and the meshing gears 62 and 64, by reference to FIGS. 12 through 15, it will be seen that said gears are continually in mesh with each other and also respectively are continually in mesh with the racks 58 and 60. In FIG. 12 for example, the relationship of said gears on a successive pair of panels and the respective racks therefor is shown under conditions where an exemplary pair of the panels are in fully closed position, as exemplified by FIGS. 1 and 2 for example. It will be noted from this view that the axes 78 between each pair of gears are at a very acute angle to the center line axis 80 of the closed panels but, especially as can be appreciated from FIG. 9, the axis between the headed pins 50 upon which the gears respectively are rotatable is at a similar acute angle to the central axis of the panel 20. Accordingly, when the gears are in the positions shown in FIG. 12 and the racks 58 and 60 are correspondingly positioned, the panels will all be disposed commonly within the center line axis 80 of the closed panels. Further, under such circumstances, it will be seen that the racks 58 and 60, while parallel to each other, are disposed in the closest permitted relationship to each other in a transverse direction extending therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 13, it will be seen that the axes 78 through the gears of an adjacent pair of said gears are substantially perpendicular to the racks 58 and 60, said arrangement of gears and racks thereby denoting almost the same relationship as illustrated in FIG. 9, in which the panels are disposed transversely to the center line axis of the panels when they are closed. Also in this position, the racks 58 and 60 are spread transversely apart their maximum permitted distance, as controlled by the respective movement of the cooperating triangular frames 48 which essentially control the movement of the meshing gears and racks. Further, in FIG. 13, the adjacent panels are in substantially fully retracted relationship, as illustrated in FIG. 8 for example.

In FIG. 14, the diagrammatic illustration therein shows the center line axes of the gears 78 on the panels when the panels are disposed in semi-closed angular relationship to the plane of the wall-like opening 10 so as to serve as louvers permitting a limited amount of air and light to pass between the panels while still providing reasonable privacy. Also, the panels or at least the axes thereof are in maximum extended relationship, similar to that between the axes of the panels shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 15, the axes between the centers of the meshing gears 62 and 64 on an adjacent pair of panels are substantially parallel to each other and for practical purposes at least, represent the position of m e panels as shown in FIG. 9 and in which position, as in regard to FIG. 13, the racks S8 and 60 are spaced apart the maximum amount permitted by the structure which guides the racks and pinion gears.

Under conditions where the panels 20 are of moderate length, such as of the order of eight or ten feet, manual force will be adequate to effect desired opening and closing move-' ment of the panel assembly relative to the supporting and guiding track means therefor. However, where the panel assembly is to be'employedrelative to openings of abnormal width or height, such as in ballrooms, playing courts, auditori- I ums and the like, the length and corresponding weight of the panel assembly may be-such that-manual operation is impractical. Under such circumstances, suitable power means, not shown, such as endless flexible means guided around pulleys or sprockets and driven by a suitable motor, may be suitably supported relative to one edge of the opening and connected, for example, to one end, such as the upper end, of the endmost panel which, in FIG. 1, is the panel nearest jamb 16, for movement of the entire panel assembly in projecting or retracting directions, as desired.

To simplify the illustration and description of the invention as indicated above, the drawings have shown the panels 20 arranged vertically within a wall-type opening 10 where the panel assembly serves as a room divider, or the like. However, the principles of the invention are sufficiently broad to be applied either to a wall-type or window-type opening in which it is more convenient and effective to arrange the panels horizontally across the opening. For example, the fronts of certain stores or markets, including fruit stands, food and beverage dispensing establishments, such as snack bars and hamburg dispenseries, present suitable additional uses of the invention. This arrangement especially is useful where the lower edge of the panel assembly can be raised or lowered to desired heights, for dispensing purposes and the like, while also pennitting angular opening of the panels above the lower edge of the assembly for the passage of air and light.

To appreciate such horizontal arrangement of the panel assembly, it is only necessary to turn FIG. 1, clockwise and consider that the header 12 and guide channel 28 are vertical frames or elongated compartments within which all the operating and control mechanical units and mechanisms are housed. Under certain conditions, according to the weight of the panel assembly, suitable counterbalancing arrangements, such as presently used sash controls of spring or weight nature, may be enclosed in such compartments and connected, for example, to the lowermost panel to facilitate raising and lowering of such panel and thereby effect corresponding movement of all the other panels. Alternatively, where necessary, power means, of the type described above, may be employed to effect such movement. Particularly in regard to such horizontal panel assemblies in which the panels are in excess of several feet in width and the weight is substantial, such as when the panels are made of glass, it is best practice to provide the above-described sets of actuating and control linkages and gear units at both ends of the panels.

Iclaim:

1. A panel-type closure for a wall of window-type opening comprising in combination:

a. a plurality of similar panels extending vertically between the top and bottom of said opening in parallel relation to each other;

b. guide and support means extending longitudinally along the top of said opening;

c. swivel-type means connected to the upper ends of said panels substantially in alignment with the central axis of each panel and slidable along said guide and support means to move said panels toward and from each other;

d. shifting means connected to said swivel-type means and including racks having teeth along one edge of each, said racks being movable longitudinally relative to said guide and support means simultaneously to engage gears interconnected to each panel and thereby move all said panels similarly about the axes thereof to vary the angles of said panels relative to the plane of said opening; and

e. spacing mechanism also interconnected to said swiveltype means and operable simultaneously to move said panels toward and from each other to vary the width of the spaces evenly therebetween.

2. The closure means according to claim 1 further including headed members movable longitudinally in said guide and support means and connected to each panel by short shafts extending from said headed members, and said spacing means comprising sets of crossedlinks pivotally interconnected intermediately of the ends thereof and the ends of each set of crossed links being pivotally connected to the ends of adjacent set of crossed links, at least certain of said sets of crossed links being pivotally connected to said short shafts on said panels at the location where the intermediate portions of said crossed links are pivotally connected.

3. The closure means according to claim 1 in which said gears on each panel comprise a pair of gears meshing with each other and respectively meshing with said racks, said gears on each panel being supported upon axes fixed relative to said panel.

4. The closure according to claim 3 further including frame means connected to similar ends of each panel and provided with guides through which said elongated racks extend to maintain the same meshed with said gears incident to permitting movement of said racks transversely toward and from each other when said panels are shifted about the pivotal axes thereof when functioning as louvers.

5. The closure according to claim 4 in which said frame means are arranged to slide longitudinally relative to said racks when said panels are moved in directions to project or retract the same relative to each other and the wall or windowtype opening in which they are mounted, and said closure further including means to support the portions of said racks extending outward beyond said panels when said panels are disposed in retracted relationship with respect to each other, whereby said extending portions of said racks will not appreciably move from the operative positions thereof when said panels are in retracted position relative to the opening in which they are mounted.

6. The closure according to claim 5 in which said means to support said racks are slidably supported by said slotted guide and support means when mounted in said opening in which said panels are mounted for operation.

7. The closure according to claim 1 in which said spacing means for said panels comprise sets of links pivotally interconnected to each other intermediately of the ends thereof and the ends of said links being pivotally interconnected to similar sets connected to other panels, said sets of links being mounted between at least one similar end of each of said panels to effect uniform spacing between the same when said panels are moved between opposite edges of the opening within which said panels are mounted to effect a desired amount of open space or closure for said opening, 

